More On F-35 Lightning II - Joint Strike Fighter

The Air Force wants to create a combat-ready fighter jet in just five years.

Problems integrating parts of the Joint Simulation Environment are keeping the aircraft from reaching expanded production.

Officials said F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler fleets each "stand above" the 80% readiness goal.

Turkey was barred from the F-35 program after it decided to purchase the Russian S-400 missile.

Turkey has been banned from purchasing the F-35 after buying the Russian-made S-400 missile system.

The existing lighting system was too bright, making it difficult for boom operators to observe the refueling process.

The Air Force Thunderbirds, Navy Blue Angels and F-35s will also put on a show along the Hudson River on Aug. 22.

The Air Force this month tested how swiftly it could move an F-35 to a forward operating location in the Middle East.

As one chief warrant officer put it, they showed how Marines in the Pacific can now "rain destruction like never before."

Sens. Marco Rubio and Pat Toomey said the U.S. would benefit by having more F-35s on flight lines around the world.